Lead alloy



Patented July 7, 1 931 I UNITED STATES ROBERT JAY SHOEJIAKER, OF CI HICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR PATENT ofr IcE T S. & T. METAL COM- 7 PANY, or CHICAGO, ILnINoIs, A CORPORATION on ILLINOIS LEAD ALLOY R0 Drawing.

able increase 1n tensile strength in comparison with. lead; and a higher resistance to the corrosive or solvent efi'ect of acids.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a lead alloy, of the general character above indicated, from whichthe alloying metals will not dross out in case it is necessary to melt the alloy and which will be substantially non-corrosible in moist atmospheres.

. .The compound consists principally of lead. The alloying metals are used only in very small quantities. The substance which may be termed the primary hardener is calcium. A small quantity of aluminum is used, preferably, to prevent the drossing of the calcium in the making ofthe compound, and later in case it is necessary to melt the alloy. However, it would'be possible though inconvenient to 'protect the batch against oxidation during compounding and if the alloy were to be fabricated subsequently by processes not involving melting and in this case the aluminum would'not be an essential element. In addition to the primary hardener, calcium, the alloy contains one or more substances that may be termed secondary hardeners because they produce a greater increase of hardness when incorporated in a leadcalcium alloy than when they are used alone with lead. These secondary hardeners comprise tin and mercury, used either singly or together.

The following table indicates preferable provide an alloy of Application filed November 28'. 2928. Serial No. 322,573.

limits in respect to the proportions'of the ingredients Per cent Calcium 0.1 to 0.4 Tin 0.5 to 2.0 Mercury 0.1 to 1.0 Aluminum 0.02 to 0.1

Lead to make up 100%.

The following is a specific and preferred example of the type of alloy contemplated by the invention:

Example 1 1 Percent Calcium; a 0.2v Tin 1.0 Mercury 0.1

Aluminum Lead to make up 100%.

A pipe if made of this alloy will withstand bursting pressures substantially double those which ordinary lead pipes of corresponding I weight will withstand. For example, a one inch lead pipe of four pounds to the linear foot should withstand bursting pressures up to 900 pounds per square inch. A pipe of the same diameter, but of two pounds per linear foot, if composed of the alloy described, will'withstand pressures up to 900 pounds per square inch. I

A pipe made of this alloy is cheaper, heavier, more durable and more flexible than a cop' per or brass pipe of the same diameter. The alloy has a hardness of approximately 5 Brinell, about twice the,hardness of lead.

The hardness may be varied by increasing or decreasing the primary and secondary hardening agents within the limits above indicated. Like degrees of hardness may be obtained by decreasing the calcium content and increasing the amount of tin or mercury or both. I

It may be said that the tin may be used in considerably larger quantities than indicated in the table, but any substantial extically negligible.

.case the mercury and n never not s occluding the use no re asocs stated,

of approximately 1500 Fahrenheit under a covering of calcium chloride or 0e. er suitable Aluniin .is introduced, l c erably as 60% alloy of and Since amount of the aluminum is very small, the tin in roduced in t is Way is prac- The calcium, as met .illQ calcium, is then introduced into the lead. The rneit is allowed to cool to atemperature above the melting point of lead, say to 700 Fahrenheit, and the calcium chloride covering is skimmed o thebath can be allowed to solidify then remelted to about '?'00 Fahrenheit, whereupon in either are added.

The aluminum is used as antidrossing" agent prevent oxidation of the cal cium. its use in amounts in excess the upper limit specified above has no advantage and tends tomalte the alloy porous and. bring out excessive shrinkage losses.

When the alloy is used for making pipe, the pipe can be formed by extrusion, although higher pressures are required than are commonly used in making lead pipe.

If desired, the alloy may be compounded in part by an electrolytic process. The lead is melted and aluminum added. The melt is covered With calcium chloride andsubj cted to an electric current, the positive electrode being immersed in the calcium chloride and the negative electrode in the Emample 2 The mercury given under nample 1 is omitted and the calcium content increased. A preferred formula (sub ect to mod1lication within the limits above} is as follows:

Per cent Calcium 0.3 Tin Aluminum 0.05

Lead to make up given in the first table =ciiic examples have been given, 0 cover by patent all modifies, scope ot the appended the term co sisting es the claims 1 do not intend to oossibility of incorporating in substances of such a char such small amounts as not to subwill the character of alloy as Jove. I

cough,

slightly hardened, non-corro- .d alloy consisting principally oi: lead the following substances quantities by Weight substantially as follows: calcium 0.1 cent to 0. l per cent and w 0.5 per cent to 2.0 percent. I

2. A. tough, slightly hardened, non-corrosible lead alloy consisting principally of lead containing the following substances quantities by Weight substantially as follows: calcium 0.1 per cent to 0.4 per cent and tic 0.5 per cent to 2.0 per cent and mercury from 0.1 per centto 1.0 per cent.

3. i; tough, slightly hardened, non-corro sible lead alloy consisting principally of lead and containing the following substances in quantities by Weight substantially as follows: calcium 0.2 per cent and tin 1.0 per cent.

A tough, slightly hardened, non-corrosible lead alloy consisting principally of lead 5. tough, sli htly hardened, non-corrosible lead alloy consisting principally of lead and containing the following substances in quant'ties by Weight substantially as follows: calcium 0.1 per cent to 0.4: per cent, tin 0.5 per cent to 2.0 per cent and aluminum from 0.02 per cent to 0.1 per cent.

tough, slightly hardened, non-corrosible lead alloy consisting principally of lead and containingthe following substances in quantities by Weight substantially as follows calcium 0.1 per cent to 0.4: per cent, tin 0.5

per cent to 2.0 per cent, mercuryirom 0.1 per,

cent to 1.0 per cent, and aluminum from 0.02 per cent to 0.1 per cent;

2'. A tough, slightly hardened, non-corro sible lead alloy consisting principally of lead and containing the followingsubstances in quantities by Weight substantially as follows: calcium 0.2 per cent, tin 1.0 per cent and aluminum from 0.02 per cent to 0.1p er cent.

8. A tough, slightly hardened, non-corrosible lead alloy consisting principally 01? lead and containing the following substances in quantities by Weight substantially as follows: calcium 0.2 per cent, tin 1.0 per cent, mercury 0.11 per cent, and aluminum from 0.02 per cent to 0.3. per cent. I

9. A. tough, slightly hardened, non-corrosible lead alloy consisting principally of lead m r: (UM

and containing the followin substances in quantities by weight substantmlly 82S follows: calcium 0.2 per cent; tin 1.0 per cent and aluminum 0.05 per cent.

10. A tough, slightly hardened, non-corro- 1 siblc lead. alloy consisting principally of leacl and containing the following substances in quantities by weight substantiallyas follows 2 calcium 0.2 per cent, tin 1.0 per cent, mercury 0.1 per cent and aluminum 0.05 er cent;

vR QBERT JAY. SHO ER. 

